Electrical contact protection



June 17, 1941. w. T. REA 2,246,064

ELECTRICAL CONTACT PROTECTION Filed" Feb. 12, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVE/V 70/? W 7? REA ATTORNEP June 17, 1941. w REA 2,246,064

' ELECTRICAL CONTACT PROTECTION I Filed Feb. 12, 1938 I I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 POLAR/Z E D POLAR/ZED anew/r MAA'E 774. 5

REAK MAKE MARK SPA CE SPACE MARK uvmsw 70/? W. 7. REA

ATTORNEY June 17, 194i. 1 REA 2,246,064

ELECTRICAL CONTACT PROTECTION Filed Feb. 12, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 POL ARIZEO vFIG/.5

lNl/EN 70/? W 7." REA 8y gwkfw o ase senerating apparatus and changes in teie- Connected in this manner the tuning condenser Patented June 17, 1941 I I lTED STATESTQATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL PROTECTION Wilton T. Rea Flushing Y assignor to Bell Telephone iaboratories, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation or New York Application February 12. 938, Serial No. 190,176

20 Claims. (01.175-294) This invention relates to improvements in the brid repeatertelegraph circuits Polarential teleprotection of electrical .contacts. More particugraph circuits are circuits in which transmission larly it concerns improvements in the resonant is true polar in onedirection and difl'erential in circuit contact protective device or, as it is otherthe other direction, Reference is made'to Patent wise known, the tuned retard coil contact pro- 2,131,870 to W. Cramer, October 4, 1938, in which tective device. The improved device is shown such circuits are described. herein asapplied to the protection of telegraph As heretofore appli d o tele raph 1 p circ s, relay contacts butimay be applied to the protecthe contact protective device has been arranged tion of any contacts operating in an electrical in either of two manners. In the first manner, circuit. In the operation or the resonant circuit the induction coil is shuntedhy a single conmatched by a transient voltage generated in the quencies, developed in the contacts as they make resonant circuit, which comprises an inductive andbreak, are passed by the tuning condenser coil and a condenser connected to the armature into the telegraph loop, introducing noise'into operating between the contacts, Asthe armature ssociated circuits. In the second manner, the I leaves one contact, the transient voltage detuning condenser is divided into two units. Each veloped inthe resonant circuit impresses on the "unit is connected in series with a resistance. The

which the armature is breaking. The potential around h armature n ch contact T1118 tained below the point at which arcing or sparksuppress objectionable frequencies, but tour aping occurs,- while the armature and contact are units, namely two resistances and two separated, and is gradually changed'bei'ore the condensers are required, in addition to the inarmature comes into proximity or the contact duction coil, to provide the protection. with which it is to make, so that the armature In the present invention, as applied to loop and potential matches the potential or the making polarential circuit the tuning capacitance concontact. Sparking and arcing, and all 01' the evils sists 01' a single condenser only for each pair of attending the making and or contacts at relay contacts and armature to be protected. The different potentials are very substantially resingle condenser is connected between the induced- The Present invention lm duction coil and relay armature to ground orto lmprovementsin the rrangem nt of th transient any point where the potential remains constant.

man. circuits to permit the more widespread serves also as a fliter to suppress the trn usengt an: im gloved devicz. t d of the objectionable frequencies to the connected re ore e resonan circi protect etelegraph li I v Vi n i s pplication to telezraph circuits has It is an object or this invention to provide imbeen applied only to .telesraph'l p we!!! 11! proved contact protection for telegraph relays, which the current m the u using fewer apparatus units than in the hereto- :33 2 331 3 E 2232 223 33:; "fore known arrangement of the resonant circuit 8 8 mp protective device. f invent! herein means i g g g It is a further object or this invention to make mg protecting device map 00p possible a more widespread use of the improved cults in which the current flowing between armature and either contact or the telegraph relay, mm circuit protective device transmitting into the bounced not be m- A feature of this invention is that the capaci- Further, in the invention herein, means are 111 tance, used to tune the induction coil, in generatthe-two contacts of a telegraph relay is not balanced, so that the resonant circuit device may be used to provide contact protection therein.

A further feature of this invention is the use of a rectifying device shunting the contact protection induction coil to obtain a greater armature potential change from the armature free steady state potential when the armature swings, in one direction, than when it swings in the opposite direction to care for conditions where the free potential of the armature dfiers widely from the average potential impressed on the two contacts with which it engages.

A further feature of this invention consists in the variation of either the inductance or capacity or both, used in the resonant circuit device, to care for the operation or the protected relay under different operating conditions.

These and other features of the invention will be understood from reference to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 shows a'subscribers telegraph loop circuit including the new contact protection arrangement. In this particular loop circuit the armature current has been balanced for the marking and spacing condition. The resonant circuit protection device comprises the inductance l, and the single condenser 8, which also serves as a filter to ground for objectionable frequencies developed when armature 8 makes con tact alternately with contacts 43 and 5.

Fig. 2 is another embodiment of the invention in which the resonant circuit contact protecting device, with the single condenser serving the function of tuning the inductance and filtering objectionable frequencies, has been applied to a polarential telegraph circuit. I

Fig. 3 shows the application of the invention to a polarential telegraph circuit arranged in a slightly diiierentrmanner from that shown in Fig. 2.

Both Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are of the same general type of. polarential telegraph circuit. Refer ence to these figures discloses that positive and regative 130-volt battery is applied for the spacing and marking conditions respectively, in transmitting from the left-hand station of the figures, whereas negative l30-vo1t battery and ground is applied for the spacing and marking conditions respectively, in transmitting from the right-hand stations.

. Fig. yids a second general type of polarential telegraphcirc t to which the invention herein hasobeen applied. It will be observed that this typeof circuit diflers from that shown in Figs. 2 and 3, from a transmission standpoint, in that the battery polarity of the spacing contact at the right-hand station is positive and with the armature at the left-hand station on the marking contact the batteries at the two stations are in series.

Fig. 5 shows a the current flowing between-the armature and each contact of the transmitting relay 50! is not balanced, to which the new contact protection arrangement has been applied. A rectifying device Sill in series with a resistance 505 is shunted around the inductance of'the contact protecting device to provide a swing'above the armature free steady state volttelegraph loop circuit, in which of. the circuit of Fig.

greater armature voltage age as the armature swings from spacing to markswings in the opposite direction.

.Fig. 6 shows two curves in which armature voltage for relay 5! armature of Fig. 5 is plotted against time. Curve voltage change as the armature swings from the spacing to the marking contact. Curve 6&2 shows the armature voltage change as the armature swings from marking to the spacing contact.

Fig. 7 shows the application of the new contact protective device .to a hybrid repeater. In this repeater the telegraph relay operates under two different conditions. In order to aiiord protection, therefore, it is necessary device be changed. This is accomplished by a switching relay.

Figs. 8 to 14 inclusive, show variations in the switching arrangement to change the inductance ing than when it of the coil or the capacitance of the condenser or both in the circuit of the Fig. 7.

Fig. 15 is-a simplified circuit used in connection with an exposition of the underlying theory of the resonant circuit contact protection device.

Fig. 16 is a curve showing the relationship between the inductance, resistance and capacitance hybrid repeater of time of; occurrence of the initial peak of the oscillatory transient generated by the opening of the key. I

Refer now to Fig. 1. A subscribers telegraph loop circuit is shown to which the improved resonant circuit contact protecting and filtering device, consisting of induction coil i and con denser 8 connected to ground 9, has been applied. In this circuit the current flowing between the armature t of relay to, and each of the relay contacts ii and 5 has been eq lized; The positive and negative batteries connected to contacts d and 5 respectively, are equal inv magnitude. The various resistances and the resistance of the loop circuit are such that the free potential of armature 8' is zero which is midway between the potential of the two oppositely'poled batteries connected to the contacts. The travel times or the relay from contactto contact are equal. The

transmitting relay it at the central station oper ates its armature 8 alternately'to contacts i and 5 under the influence of its relay windings which are not shown. I

at the subscribers station follows these signals. The transmitting relay It, also at the subscribers station, opens andcloses vthe loop when transmitting under the influence oft-its winding not shown, to operate thereceiving relay ii 'atthe central station. When the armature t is on contact 5 a circuit may be traced from negative battery through resistance 3, contact 5, armature 6 of relay l6, induction coil 1 to :junction point It where it divides. One branchiollows the lower or biasing winding of relay l Lresistance'w to ground IS. The other branch follows the upper winding of relay H, resitance l2, the'lower loop conductor, indicated by the lower dotted'line, arma-.

*is in the above-mentioned position namely on contact 5, the current in the" loop is approximately 60 milliampereswhile the current-through the lower winding of relay II is 30 inilliamperes.

8M shows the armature that the protective l5 and the magnitude and Receiving relay i i in the loop The aggregate current through coil 1, therefore, is 90 milliamperes.

When relay l6, armature G has been operated subscribers loop, that the loop is substantially short-circuited The current through the upper winding of relay II is negligible and the current through the lower winding is 90 miiliamperes, all of which flows through coil '1 in the opposite direction from that in which it flows when armature 6 was on contact 5.

A condenser t is connected from a point between coil 1 and armature 6 to ground 9.

When thearmature 6 breaks from either contact 4 or a transient oscillatory voltage is deso controlled that it matches the voltage of the contacts 4 and 5 alternately as it makes with each. Further, on break, while the armature is in proximity with the contact from which it is separating, due to the,shape of the armature voltage-time characteristic curve, the diiference When, however, the-condenser 8 is connected to ground 9 as shown in Fig. 1, the objectionable frequencies are prevented from passing, as the inductance alone in series with the loop circuit presents a high impedance to the frequencies involved. The protective function of the resonant circuit device, however, is unimpaired, because it obviously will generate a transient voltage, the characteristics of which are dependent on the values of the inductance and the capacity and which can, therefore, be controlled to impress the required instantaneous matching voltage on the armatureat the proper instant.

In Fig. 1, since the current flowing through the coil 1 is the same in magnitude for each-contact position, and since the free voltage of the armature is midway between the voltage of the contacts, the armature voltage-time characteristic for the two conditions will be such that the magnitude of the transient voltage peaks will be the same andoccur at the same interval after break in each instance. Since the direction of the current is opposite for the two armature positions,

the first. peak of each curve willbe opposite in direction from the other. Since the inductance of the coil opposes the change in magnitude of the current, the voltage impressed on the con-v 75 denser and on the armature, when the armature direction in which it is flowing when the circuit is broken. We may consider, therefore, that a new source of voltage is introduced into the cirvoltage at point Ill be negative and at the other end of the coil, where the condenser and armature are connected, be positive. Therefore, the

sign of the armature potential of the first peak after the armature breaks from the negative contact 5 will be positive, matching the sign of the voltage on contact 4 which it is approaching.

20 tact 4, the sign of the first peak of the potential on armature 6 will be negative, matching the sign of the voltage on contact 5.

If the armature after breaking were to stand free between the contacts, a voltage would be ''impressed on the armature oscillating about its free potential. We have seen that the free potential of the armature is midway between the potentials of the contacts which in this case is ground potential. A series of constantly diminishing voltage peaks, alternately opposite in direction, would be impressed on the armature,

' until the effect of the transient developed in the coil and its tuning condenser were spent,

40 armature and the contact would dependon the It is possible to control the transient voltage, to fix its peaks in magnitude and time by a proper choice of constants of the inductance coil and the condenser. It is, therefore, possible to impress on the armature a potential equal in magnitude to that of the contact it approaches at an interval after break equal to the armature travel time.

Following is a demonstration of the means of determining the proper values of inductance and sistance of the connecting circuit.-

.The tuned retard contact protective network when the contact is opened, the initial peak of The general equation for the relation between charge and time in such a circuit is:

' q=a e dge g' where.

R R 1 P1= 7 T R R 1 P2= 5 -1 and a1 and or: are constants to be determined from the known initial and final conditions of For the case in which Vmax=E the circuit. These conditions are I When t-'-0 q=-EC' E From condition II p a +p a Substituting (2), 3), 4) and (5) m (1) RT V, r and E (5) For very large values of vm, RT arE l TT approac ES max in i 1 R 2L R0 firm 1 2 via U R 1 q l R EZFC' .1 R2 (6) V- Ee cos t-l- 1 far 4L2 LC 4L2 1 R2 lull RC i/L0 EF g 1 f? LC 4L E while for very small values of Vm RT E V Ymn Y=0 and t= T i approaches log m th n 45 Fig. 16 shows computed values of R R A 9E rc'rnK M re rn Rrand T #1 2 R0 for values of 2L0 LC-m Vim or r E substituting ('1) and (a) in (6) L, W m

Substituting (9) in (8).

from zero to 3. i

In the telegraph loop circuit of Fig. 1 considered above, to which the resonant circuit contact protective and filtering device was applied, it was not necessary to modify the circuit so'that the free potential of the :armature to which thedevice was connected would be centered between the potentials impressed upon the two contacts with which the armature engaged alternately.

We will now show how the resonant circuit contact protective and filtering device may be applied to telegraph circuits in which the free pctential of the armature of the protected telegraph relay is not centered between the potentials impressed on the contacts.

Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 show modified telegraph cir- (9) cults of oneof the types known as polarential.

In polarential circuits the transmission 'lstrue polar in one direction and difierential in the 7 other. In this particular type of polarential cir- I RT RT W Q1: 1 E cult, known in the art as type A polarential, cos T 5 L 10 transmission of aspacing signal in the differential direction is accomplished by removing of a resistance in'each of Figs. 2 and 3, to make at the differential crating winding, not shown, on each transmitting When either station transmits a spacing signal to the other the armature at the transmitting station is actuated to its spacing contact under the influence of a biasing lay 205, throughrelay resistance, relay 209 winding and induction coil the ground on lay M3, .is balanced by contacts.

At relay 2 IS the free potential of the armature as it swings between its contacts, if resistance 2 It were disconnected, would be equal to the poten tial of the apex A of relay 205. This potential tion of the vparatus performi than in Fig.

ancing winding of relay 205.

In the theory of operation of a system of this type, the batteries connected to this were the case, the free potential of the armature of relay 2| 3 would be of its marking and spacing midway between that contact and modificacircuit would be unnecessary. In practice it has been found advisable to partially sacrifice the advantage aflorded by this type of longer equal to one-half of the voltage on the spacing contact of relay 3 i 3, but is higher than one-half the difierence between ground potential cordance with the mathematical demonstration above.

In Fig. 3 apparatus corresponding in function to that in Fig. 2

known in the circuit. Here apgeneral function as numbered 200 greater 2. The potential on the spacing con- The circuit shownjn Fig. 4 is art as a type B polarentialng the same the apparatus in Fig. 2 is negative batteries on scribers loop is equal to the resistance the lower windin -When the armature of coil it: toward the The effective inductance of 6- tact at the differential transmitting end, relay M3, is of opposite polarity from that on the marking contact transmitting end, relay 8M. ,Type B polarential circuits have the advantage of eliminating the effect, on transmission, of changes in line leakage resistance. In this invention we are applying the tuned retard contact protection device to circuits of the type B polarential type and modifying the transmitting relay end of the circuit to make the application feasible.

The resistance 4H1 connected as i signed to perform the same function as did in Fig. 3 described above, namely, to center the free potential of the armature of relay Mt between that of its two contacts and make the current through when the armature is on each of its contacts so as to fix the constants of the coil and tuning shown is deresistance another modified form oi resonant circuit contact protection and filtering device has been applied. In this circuit the free steady state mtential of the armature is not centered between that of its engaging contacts. The effective inductance of the induction coil is changed as to give a greater matching peak for an armature swing in one direction than for a swing in the opposite direction. Reference to Fig. 5 and the following description will disclose how this is accomplished. I

Relay am is the transmitting relay and-relay 5% the receiving relay at the central station connected by the loop to the-receiving relay see at the subscriber's local station. Relay dill is the transmitting relay at-the subscriber's station. The receiving relay 5% is balanced with respect to the transmitting relay 5!)! and does not follow signals from 58!. The positive and The resistance of the cirapex of relay 5% around the subfrom the relay 5!!! areequal. cuit from the same apex to ground through i of relay 508. The steady state potential of the apex when thearmature is free is, therefore, onehalf of the positive voltage on the 8 contact. This is also the free steady state voltage of the armature. To match "the potential of the 8 contact, therefore, the armature voltage must be increased over its free steady state voltage 100 per cent in the positive direction. To match the potential of the changed 300 per cent inthe negative direction from its free steady state voltage.

In order to accomplish this, theeiiective inductance of the coil 5" is changed for the two conditions. A varistor BM in series with a resistance 505 is used to shunt the inductance'iflS. Advantage is taken of the characteristic of a varistor that it offers very much greater resistance to the flow of current in one direction than to the flow of current in the opposite direction. relay 50 I is on its marking contact, current. will flow from positive battery on the 8 contact around M contact. The varistor is connected so thatforthis direction of current now it affords a low resistance shunt in series with resistance ill to the inductance coil 5".

coil "3 will be low.

.. con-, denser in accordance with the above formulas M contacts of I the loop through the the coil Iii equal and opposite for the alternate operations of the armature so 1 'M' contact.

In conjunction with the condenser 502 it-will swing the voltage of relay 5M armature 100 per cent above its free steady state condition during the armature travel time to match the potential of the S contact on make. When the armature of relay 5!" is on its S contact, the direction of flow of current is from positive battery on this contact through coil 503, through the lower winding of relay 5% to ground. It will be observed that when the armature of relay 5%" is on its S in the opposite direction from that in which it iiowswhen the armature is on its M contact. The resistance ofiered by the varistor to the flow of current while the armature is on its S contact is very high. The resistance of the shunt around the inductance coil 503 is so high that most of the current passes through the coil 503. The transient voltage developed in it for this condition is such, that in conjunction with condenser 502, its first peak swings the armature voltage 300 per cent from the armature free steady state condition in the negative direction to match the potential on the With the condenser connected. to ground in this, as in all other figures, objectionable frequencies developed in the contacts as they ,make are filtered out of the connecting loop circuit.

M contact the armature must be this case the efiective inductance of coil .large and the arm ture voltage change above the InFig. 6 armature voltages are plotted against time for the armature voltage of relay 5M of Fig. 5. Curve till shows the armature voltage change for an S to M armature transition. In 503 is free steady state armature voltage level represented by VT is three times as great as for the transition from M to S represented by curve 602 when the effective inductance of coil 503 is small. Figs. '1 to 14, inclusive, show a telegraph repeater which has been circuit contact protection and filtering device to the transmitting relay. The hybrid repeater functions at different times with two difierent types of connecting circuits. With one type the through the contact protective induction coil is considerably greater than with the other type. To care for this variation arrangements are disclosed vary the capacity of the tuning condenser or the inductance of the coil or both, 'by relay which is operated or released to change the inductance or capacity or both for the two of connections.

and the following descripthis is accomplished. The

in Fig.1 functions with full duplex loop repeater connected to it at the right, and,

terminal repeaters connected to it at the left.

different types Reference to Fig. 7 tion will disclose how hybrid repeater-shown either a half duplex loop repeater or 0.

- The connecting circuits are not shown as theyare not necessary to an understanding of the in- The hybrid repeater as shown '7 with relay 505 in its unoperated position is in a condition for connection to a half duplex repeater through conductor 122. 7 Over conductor volts is connected for the markthe spacing condiand 'IZI are open. Conductor I0! is connected through the line wind: ing of a relay of the connecting terminal repeater, not shown, to negative volt battery. Conductor I02 is connected through the armature of a relay also in the connecting terminal repeater.

I 22 negative 48 notshown, to negative 130 volt battery on the M known in the, art as a hybrid repeater modified to apply the resonant in these figures to means of a! contact. on the S contact of the same relay is I alone. When theresistance is raised 50 per cent positive 130 volt battery. The hybrid repeater the peak voltage may be brought back to its marking contact as shown and relay H04 follows 7 is still sufficiently close to prevent damage to the the signals. Current of 90 milliamperes flows in contacts. opposite directions through the induction coil 100 In the circuit of Fig. 7, therefore, relay I is as the armature of relay 104 engages its marking in the unoperated position when connected to a and spacing contacts alternately. Tuning con- 14 denser I01 is permanently connected in circuit as coil 1'06 is 90 milliamperes. Both condensers,

shown. With relay 105 in its unoperated condiwhich are of the same capacity, are connected tion, as shown, tuning condenser 70? is also coninto the circuit for this condition. The connected into the circuit so that the capacity availstants of the coil .108 and the aggregate capacity able to tune the circuit is the sum of condensers 15 of the two condensers I01 and 10'! are chosen 101 and 101'. Resistance 109 serves to center the for this condition. When Fig. 7 is connected to a free steady state voltage of the armature of relay full duplex repeater and the current through 104 between its marking and spacing potentials. the coil is 60 milliamperes, relay 105 is operated.

When the hybrid repeater isconnected to a full Condenser 101 is disconnected, halving the caduplex loop repeater, conductor 120 is connected 2o pacity while the inductance is unchanged. The

volt battery. On the spacing contacts is ground. F 2 8 o inclusive. Show other embodi- Conductor MI is connected to positive 130. volt ments of Fig. 7 in which the indutance, the cabattery through the winding of a relay in the pacity or both are changed. .Where both are the terminal repeater, on the marking contact ra ly ma ched for each condi ion- In h e spacing contact of which is positive 130 volt bat- 7 is similarly numbered except that as in the case tery. With relay 105 operated the hybrid reof Fig. 7 -it is preceded by the figure number in peater will be in the marking condition for opereach instance.

ation with the full duplex repeater. What is claimed is:

When the loop repeater transmits to the hybrid 1. A first electrode, a second electrode condirepeater, the alternate ground and negative 48 tioned to engage with and disengage from said volt connection to lead l2l will operate relay 10d first electrode, and an electrode protecting device armature alternately to its spacing and marking connected to said electrodes consisting of elecontacts, connecting positive and negative 130 ments for impressing a transient voltage on said Again resistance 109 functions to center the free consisting of an induction coil and a single casteady state voltage but since the current through pacitative means, said capacitative means dithe induction coil I06 is less, the peak voltages rectly to ground.

2. condition when 90 milliamperes 01' current flowed tact, a second contact separated from said first through it. When relay I05 operated, however, 0 contact, means for actuating said second contact condenser 10'! was connected from ground to engage said first contact, an electric potential and it is not eifective in the circuit. of a first value impressed on said first contact, an

potential of a contact with theiirst peak of the a transient voltage generating device including that for the half duplex condition may be confor actuating said second contact to disengage greater "current flow, to obtain the same match- 7 impressed on said second contact after said contacts disengage.

'- trode on said relay,

prising an mature and a condenser connected directly bevstantially closer in mitting relay, 9.

means operating to reduce the difierence between said potentials for an interval as said, con- 4. In an.- electrical circuit, a relay, a-first eleca second electrode on said relay, an armature on said relay making contact alternately with said first electrode and said secnd electrode, a first electric potentialimpressed on said first electrode, a second electric potential impressed on said' second electrode, a third electric potential of a value different from said first potential and from said second potential impressed on said armature, a transient ,voltage generating device connected tosaid circuit cominduction coil'in series with said artween said armature and a point of fixed potential, cooperating to match the potentials of said armature and sad electrodes as they make alternately and to prevent'the entrance into said circuit of objectionable frequencies generated on said armature as said contacts make.

5. in a relay contact a contact, an armature conditioned to engage said contact, a, potential of a first value impressed on said contact, a fixed potential of a different value from said first value impressed on said armature when said armature is not in engagement with said contact and a transient voltage generating device, connected to said relay, for matching the potential of said contact with an instantaneous value of the transient voltage as said armature engages said contact, said device comprising means for suppressing currents of objectionable frequencies generated as said armature and said contact make.

6. In atelegraph circuit, a transmitting relay, a first contact on said relay, a second contact. on said relay, an armature on said relay, said armature conditioned to make with and break from said contacts alternately, a first potential impressed on said first contact, a second potential impressed on said second contact, a

third potential impressed on said armature of a value different from said first potential and from said second potential and a transient voltage generating device connected to said armature consisting of an induction coil in series with said armature and a single capacitative means con- .nected from said armature to a point of fixed potential, the electrical constants of said coil and said condenser being so chosenas to reduce the difference between said potentials on said contacts and said armature as said armature makes and breaks with said contacts.

7.1a a telegraph circuit, a telegraph transmitting relay, a first contact on said relay, a first a second contact on said relay, :3. second electric potential impressed on. said second contact, different from said first potential, an armature on said relay conditioned to make and break from each of said contacts alternately, a third electric potential impressed on said armature when said armature is not in engagement with either of said contacts, said third electric potential being substantially closer in value tosaid firstpotential than to said second circuit, consisting of an induction coil and a unidirectional current shunt for said coil, for

' electrodes, said third impressing on said armature apotential alternately matching that on said first contact and said second contact as said armature makesand breaks with each of said contacts.

9. A first electrode, a second electrode, a first potential impressed on said first electrode, a second potential different from said first potential, impressed on said second electrode, an armature contacting said electrodes alternately, a third potential different from either of said potentials, impressed on said armature when said armature is not in contact with either of said potential being substantially difierent than the mid-potential between said first potential and said second potential,

and electric apparatus means for impressing on said armature potentials alternately matching said first potential on said first electrode and said second potential on said second electrode Ond potential electric potential impressed on said contact, a

second, contact on said relay, a second electric potential, diilerent from said first potential, impressed on said second contact, an armature on said relay conditioned to make with and break from each of said contacts alternately, a third potential impressed on said armature is not in engagement with either of said contacts, said third potential being subpotential than to said second and means in said circuit for impressing on said tial alternately matching that on saidfirst contact and said makesand breaks with each of said contacts.

8. In a telegraph circuit, a telegraph transfirst contact on said relay, a first electric potential impressed on said contact,

armature when said parallel with .Ior operating as said armature alternately contacts each.

10. A first .electrode, a second electrode, a first potential impressed on said first electrode, a

second potential, difierent from said first potential, impressed on said second electrode, an armature contacting said electrodes alternately, a

third potential difierent from either of said potentials, impressed on said armature when said armature is not in contact with either of said electrodes, said third potential being substantially difierent than the mid-potential between said first potential and said secondpotential, an-induction'coil in series with said armature, a unidirectional current shunt consisting of a varistor 111 series with a resistance connected in said coil, and a condenser, connected from said armature directly to a point of fixed potential, for impressing on said armature potentials alternately matching said first potential on said first electrode and said second potential on said second electrode as said armature alternately contacts each. 4

11. In a contact protecting device a relay, 9. contact on said relay, a first potential impressed on said contact, an armature on said relay, a secdifierent from said first potential impressed on said armature when said armature is not in engagement with said contact, means said armature to engage with and disengage from said contact,-a current of a first magnitude flowing through said armature and said contact at a first time, a. current of a substantially greater magnitude flowing through said armature-and said contact at a second time, and variable contact protection means comprising an induction coil and a plurality of condensers conditioned to generate transient voltages oi! different magnitudes to protect said contact.

at the two said times.

12. A device for protecting contactsin an electric circuit, means in said device ior generating potential and means in said second first potential difierence 2,246,064 in said device for automatically varying the number of said units connected effectively in said device to protect said contacts when diflerent loads are connected to said contacts at different times.

13. A telegraph relay, a

first and second contact and an armature all a first potential impressed on said first electrode,-

a second potential impressed on said second electrode, a third potential impressed on said armature when said armature is not in contact with said electrodes, means for centering said third potential to the mid-point in magnitude between said first and second potentials, and a resonant contact protecting device comprising a single condenser connected directly to a point of fixed potential for changing the potential impressed on said armature to match the potentials impressed on said electrodes as said armature contacts each alternately.

15. In an electrical circuit, a first electrode, a

first pole connected to said first electrode and a second pole connected in series to the first end and L=.8981 RT.

16. In an electrical circuit, a first contact, a

impressed between said first contact and said armature when said armature is disconnected from said contacts, a second potential difference, substantially greater than protect said armature first contact as they disengage and automatic means comprising a rectifier shunting said inductancefor changing the protection afiorded by said device to protect said armature and said second contact as they disengage.

'17. In an electrical circuit, a first contact, a second contact, an armature conditioned to make with and break from each of said contacts, a first potential difference impressed between said said armature and said second contact as they engage.

18. A pair of cooperating electrical contacts, an electrical load of a first magnitude connected to said contacts at a first time, an electrical load of substantially different magnitude from said first magnitude connected to said contacts at a means for interrupting the transfer energy to said load through said contacts at said times, so as to generate disruptive arcs. of different intensities between said second time.

.19. In an electric circuit, a pair of electrical contacts each conditioned to engage with and disengage from the other, means for passing a current of a first magnitude through said contacts at a first time, a contact protection device connected to one of said contacts comprising a lumped inductance and a lumped capacitance so proportioned in relation each to the other as to generate a transient electromotive force of such magnitude as to protect said contacts while said contacts are engaging and disengaging, means for passing a current of a second magnitude substantially difi'erent from said first magnitude through said contacts at a second time, and relay switching means for changing said proportion to protect said contacts at said second time.

20. In an electrical circuit, a battery, 8. contact in engagement with an armature, a lumped inductance, and an electrical load all connected in series to form a continuous circuit, a lumped capacitance having a first terminal connected to said armature and a second terminal connected to a point of fixed potential, means for connecting fixed quantities of said inductance and said capacitance efl'ectively in circuit in a first ratio to protect said contacts at a first time and means for changing said ratio, to protect said contacts at a second time.

WILTON T. REA. 

